Comments on: Physics in Paradise

By: Spilt Beans Coffee - The Latest News, Information, & Blogs on Coffee: » Blog Archive » Exhibit reflects on the everyday future (Colony Courier-Leader)

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 21:45:42 +0000

[…] Physics in ParadiseSometimes life is rough and you just gotta struggle through it. A couple days ago, I returned from a 10 day trip to Hawaii. (Did I mention the life is rough part?) The reason for the trip was, of course, physics! But this time, and it’s been too long of a . […]

By: chimpanzee

chimpanzee — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 06:26:28 +0000

“doing work in nice places”

When I was at JPL, I was on a project (Reagan’s SDI nonsense) involving a 40″ telescope used to monitor Russian satellites. People would stay at condos on Maui (I never did, since I got blackballed by the jerkoffs). It was a big topic of discussion by other group members, who were envious of our “work/play” opportunity. Sunrise from Mt. Haleakala was supposed to be a hot thing to do.

BTW, THAT telescope ended up in Dr. Eleanor Helin’s hands, to do Asteroid hunting/detection (?) I saw a science show which showed some that project, which was a FLAT-OUT joke

You can see re-runs of Hawaii Five-O on local LA KDOC channel 56. It’s one of my favorite series, since it’s a PERFECT metaphor for Scientific Research:

“Sometimes, you have to do some digging on the beach..to find the answers?”
– McGarrett

[ this is what Dr. Charles Townsend/Physics Nobelist said on “From Student to Scientist”: “You turn over one stone, then another researcher turns over other stones..& so on” ]

- McGarrett
PI, Principal Investigator..leads a team of “detectives”
stays in office late, like many research Profs

- Dano, Chin Ho Kelly, Duke, Kono
worker bees (”graduate student slaves”), who do a LOT of legwork interviewing witnesses, checking records, etc.

Science Research involves a LOT of legwork & gathering of data (”Critical Observation”). The actual conclusions (”Critical Thinking”) is a pretty quick thing.

- they draw up the data on a glass “blackboard” & begin “firing away” various theories on the crime

[ Linus Pauling was asked how he does such good work, & he replied “try a LOT of ideas” (shotgun approach) ]

- then they GET THE BAD GUY (“Book’em Dano, Murder 1..TWO COUNTS!”..yeah, Baby..”there is Justice in the World”)

equivalent to Science figuring out the answer (which often lead to other questions, & future research topics)

By: JoAnne

JoAnne — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 23:47:23 +0000

AstroCook: Indeed, that huge plume of steam you see in the picture is from lava flowing into the ocean. I went back at night (with camera tripod!) to hopefully catch a glimpse of an orange glow, but flow was too far away to get a good view. I was disappointed, but getting closer would have involved a mile hike on unchartered lava in the dark. DOE safety regulations would have been maximally violated!

By: AstroCook

AstroCook — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 21:46:09 +0000

Is the lava flow reaching the water again? It’s been awhile since I was there on the Big Island, but it looks like there is some steam near the water in one of your pictures.

I also am very excited to hear about your new paper!!

By: Not Even Wrong » Blog Archive » Way Too Much Stuff

Not Even Wrong » Blog Archive » Way Too Much Stuff — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 01:30:11 +0000

[…] Read about the tough summer life of theoretical physicists in Paul Cook’s report from Cargese (which reminded me of when I went there as a grad student), and JoAnne Hewett’s report from Hawaii (which reminded me of a very pleasant vacation I spent on the Big Island). […]

By: JoAnne

JoAnne — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:40:55 +0000

Indeed, the aura of mystery must be maintained at all times!

Actually, it’s a process which is now finally on the verge of being measured (there are some enticing hints in the data) at heavy flavor factories. I really shouldn’t say more…..and keep in mind that small hints in a data sample can come and go with ease.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:38 +0000

Now, now… don’t be pestering for hints! We all know how these exotic island physicists must keep an air of mystery about them.

p.s. Love the pictures! I’m pretty sure I’ve been on that exact same lava-blocked road.

By: Dimitri Terryn

Dimitri Terryn — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:06:57 +0000

Michael,

Yes, I was trying to avoid the teaser, but I must confess that I’m intrigued as well…

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 12:57:03 +0000

I’m intrigued by your teaser that the results, experimentally, are especially relevant now… Can you give us a hint? Well, if not, please keep working - and let us know when your paper is available publicly!

By: Amara

Amara — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 09:18:18 +0000

Dear Joanne, I’m entranced by those sea turtles. I was born and grew up in Hawaii; my family lived on a boat in Honolulu for a time too, making my childhoold a little bit unusual (my introduction to the night sky was as a child from the deck of our boat), but for some weird reason I didn’t see sea turtles very often; I saw porpoise and manta rays much more. Last September I had a dust meeting in Kauai and took extra time to go to Molokai and visit a relative I have not seen in 30 years. During that Molokai visit, I bonded with a sea turtle. Well. I don’t know about him/her bonding with me, but we swam together for some 20 minutes, and sea turtles are glorious when they swim. Just like birds, their grace makes one want to sprout a hard shell and some flippers and become one of them.

You went to the ‘best’ island; the Big Island is my favorite!